Thomas Hobbes Quotes
April 5, 1588 – December 4, 1679
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Knowledge is power.
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, Chapter X 
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More Thomas Hobbes Quotes
From the same it proceedeth,that men gives different names, to one and the same thing, from the difference of their own passions: As they that approve a private opinion, call it Opinion; but they that mislike it, Haeresie: and yet haeresie signifies no more than private opinion; but has only agreater tincture of choler
Thomas Hobbes— The First Part, Chapter 11, p. 50
Science [is] knowledge of the truth of Propositions and how things are called.
Thomas Hobbes— 1650 Human Nature, ch.6.
In Geometry (which is the only science that it hath pleased God hithertotobestowonmankind) men begin at settling the significations of their words; which?they call Definitions.
Thomas Hobbes— 1651Leviathan, pt.1, ch.4.
Science is the knowledge of consequences and the dependence of one fact upon another.
Thomas Hobbes— 1651Leviathan, pt.1, ch.5.
The passion of laughter is nothing else but a sudden glory arising from sudden conception of some eminency in ourselves, by comparison with the infirmities of others, or with our own formerly…
Thomas Hobbes— The Elements of Law, Natural and Politic Pt. I Human Nature (1640) Ch. 9
In the state of nature, Profit is the measure of Right.
Thomas Hobbes— wikisource:De Cive (1642)
Now I am about to take my last voyage, a great leap in the dark.
Thomas Hobbes— Last words
I know not how the world will receive it, nor how it may reflect on those that shall seem to favor it. For in a way beset with those that contend, on one side for too great Liberty , and on the other side for too much Authority , 'tis hard to passe between the points of both unwounded.
Thomas Hobbes— The Epistle Dedicatory, Paris, April 15-25, 1651
Science is the knowledge of Consequences, and dependence of one fact upon another: by which, out of that we can presently do, we know how to do something else when we will, or the like, another time:
Thomas Hobbes— The First Part, Chapter 5, p. 21
But yet they that have no Science , are in better, and nobler condition with their naturall Prudence; than men, that by their mis-reasoning, or by trusting them that reason wrong, fall upon false and absurd generall rules.
Thomas Hobbes— The First Part, Chapter 5, p. 21
But Aversion wee have for things, not only which we know have hurt us; but also that we do not know whether they will hurt us, or not.
Thomas Hobbes— The First Part, Chapter 6, p. 24
For Appetite with an opinion of attaining, is called HOPE. The same, without such opinion, DESPAIRE.
Thomas Hobbes— The First Part, Chapter 6, p. 25
The Register of Knowledge of Fact is called History .
Thomas Hobbes— The First Part, Chapter 9, p. 40
The Value or WORTH of a man, is as of all other things, his Price; that is to say, so much as would be given for the use of his Power...
Thomas Hobbes— The First Part, Chapter 10, p. 42
And as in other things, so in men, not the seller, but the buyer determines the Price.
Thomas Hobbes— The First Part, Chapter 10, p. 42
For Warre, consisteth not in Battell onely, or the act of fighting; but in a tract of time, wherein the Will to contend by Battell is sufficiently known: and therefore the notion of Time , is to be considered in the nature of Warre; as it is in the nature of Weather.
Thomas Hobbes— The First Part, Chapter 13, p. 62
The RIGHT OF NATURE, which Writers commonly call Jus Naturale, is the Liberty each man hath, to use his own power, as he will himself, for the preservation of his own Nature; that is to say, of his own Life; and consequently, of doing any thing, which in his own Judgement, and Reason, he shall conceive to be the aptest means thereunto.
Thomas Hobbes— The First Part, Chapter 14, p. 64
That a man be willing, when others are so too, as farre-forth, as for Peace, and defence of himself he shall think it necessary, to lay down this right to all things; and be contented with so much liberty against other men, as he would allow other men against himself.
Thomas Hobbes— The First Part, Chapter 14, p. 64-65
As in the presence of the Master, the Servants are equall, and without any honour at all; So are the Subjects, in the presence of the Soveraign. And though they shine some more, some lesse, when they are out of his sight; yet in his presence, they shine no more than the Starres in presence of the Sun.
Thomas Hobbes— The Second Part, Chapter 18, p. 93
From whence it follows, that were the publique and private interest are most closely united, there is the publique most advanced.
Thomas Hobbes— The Second Part, Chapter 19, p. 97
No man is bound by the words themselves, either to kill himselfe, or any other man.
Thomas Hobbes— The Second Part, Chapter 21, p. 112
For all uniting of strength by private men, is, if for evil intent, unjust; if for intent unknown, dangerous to the Publique, and unjustly concealed.
Thomas Hobbes— The Second Part, Chapter 22, p. 122 (See also: Secret society)
"Fact be vertuous, or vicious, as Fortune pleaseth;"
Thomas Hobbes— The Second Part, Chapter 27, p.153
Another doctrine repugnant to Civill Society, is that whatsoever a man does against his Conscience, is Sinne ; and it dependeth on the presumption of making himself judge of Good and Evill. For a man's Conscience and his Judgement are the same thing, and as the Judgement, so also the Conscience may be erroneous.
Thomas Hobbes— The Second Part, Chapter 29, p. 168
As also the great number of Corporations; which are as it were many lesser Common-wealths in the bowels of a greater, like wormes in the entrayles of a natural man.
Thomas Hobbes— The Second Part, Chapter 29, p. 174
For it is not the bare Words, but the Scope of the writer that giveth true light, by which any writing is to bee interpreted; and they that insist upon single Texts, without considering the main Designe, can derive no thing from them clearly; but rather by casting atomes of Scripture, as dust before mens eyes, make everything more obscure than it is; an ordinary artifice of those who seek not the truth, but their own advantage.
Thomas Hobbes— The Third Part, Chapter 43, p. 331
And if a man consider the original of this great Ecclesiastical Dominion, he will easily perceive, that the Papacy , is no other than the Ghost of the deceased Romane Empire , sitting crowned upon the grave thereof: For so did the Papacy start up on a Sudden out of the Ruines of that Heathen Power.
Thomas Hobbes— The Fourth Part, Chapter 47, p. 386(See also: Arnold J. Toynbee, A Study of History, Volume I)
But if it bee well considered, The praise of Ancient Authors, proceeds not from the reverence of the Dead, but from the competition and mutual envy of the Living.
Thomas Hobbes— Review and Conclusion, p. 395
For such Truth as opposeth no man's profit nor pleasure is to all men welcome.
Thomas Hobbes— Review and Conclusion, p. 396, (Last text line...)
